Preventing Violence by Promoting Virtues (From Violence in American Schools: A Practical Guide for Counselors, P 153-165, 2000, Daya Singh Sandhu and Cheryl Blalock Aspy, eds. -- See NCJ-185486)

• NCJ Number: 185495
• Author(s): David N. Aspy
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: American Counseling Assoc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Collected Work
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

School counselors need to approach violence prevention through almost any reasonable means, including the promotion of virtue, and should acquaint themselves with a solid body of knowledge that explores both violence and virtue and the relationship between the two.

Abstract

Violence and virtue are opposite ends of a spectrum of human traits; common beliefs are that violent behavior is not virtuous and that virtuous behavior is not violent. Virtue promotion is viewed as a viable violence prevention strategy that should be pursued by school counselors. Four models for promoting virtue as an antidote to violence are described: (1) Kohlberg's model of virtue promotion--moral education in schools to teach justice; (2) Sizer's model of virtue promotion, emphasis on fairness, generosity, and tolerance; (3) Christian model of virtue promotion--the unitary virtue of love; and (4) Lickona's model of virtue promotion--virtue-promoting activities in the school setting. A proposed model of research is presented to contribute to the body of scientific data on the effectiveness of virtue promotion in violence prevention. The author concludes that there is a need to reassess the role of school counselors in violence prevention and that virtue promotion can be used to accomplish constructive ends such as violence prevention. 27 references, 2 tables, and 2 figures